One of the most important missions for a true community paper, as I see it, is to reveal the uniqueness of the community it serves. For one thing, that means finding the people who are the “glue,” doing essential work on our cultural landscape, but who don’t necessarily get the recognition they deserve. Whether it’s in business or politics or the arts, they make Santa Cruz a better place to live for all of us, and one of our foremost preoccupations here at GT is with spotlighting them.

Two weeks ago, we did it in our Nexties issue. Last week, we featured some of the founders of Santa Cruz’s LGBTQ community. This week, Christina Waters profiles two artists who deserve a closer look. First, she writes about Paul Rangell, who many locals have seen playing at the Westside farmers market, probably not realizing he’s an internationally renowned master of American folk music. Then, in her ArtFiles column, she interviews Ron Jones, who for three decades has been taking pictures for a long list of clients in the Santa Cruz arts scene. Their work and personalities have helped to shape how the world sees Santa Cruz, and how Santa Cruz sees itself.

Steve Palopoli | Editor-in-Chief

Pride and Faith

Thank you for a great Pride issue this week! It’s the best Pride issue since I came to the Santa Cruz area 10 years ago from Madison, Wisconsin, where I spent several years on their Pride committee in the 1990s. All of the articles are great, and I especially like the snapshot of events listed together on Page 22.

Sadly, the event list did not contain the Out In Our Faith celebration of “10 Years of Love and Support for the LGBTQI Community,” which was held at Temple Beth El on Friday. The impact of this group is quite visible at the Pride Parade when a dozen churches or more march in support of gay rights and inclusion. Perhaps next year, the Pride issue will include an article about the support of the religious community through Out In Our Faith.

John Laird writes in his article, “There's not a walk of life in Santa Cruz County that doesn't have an open LGBT person somewhere in its organization.” I believe that the work of gay activists and their allies has allowed for this assimilation. However, as John says, the movie Bridegroom tells us that there is still work to do. Again, a good topic for future Pride issues, which I have no doubt that you will address. Thanks again for a wonderful issue!

First off, John, I want to thank you for mentioning the Dragon Moon, and it has been a pleasure knowing you all these years. I remember SCPD parking or leaving a patrol car in front of the bar to keep people away. Have to say, it didn't work. It is sad that we have no "gay bar" here in SC. We as gay people have come a long way.

— Robert

Thanks for this, Mayor Laird. I remember you well as our mayor, and this piece brought back a lot of memories, since I attended UCSC 1982-86. I am now 50 years old, and I marvel at how far things have come in such a modest span. Drawing on those early and sometimes scary experiences in Santa Cruz, I today help (largely U.S.) corporations build LGBT employee diversity programs in Japan where I live. Thanks for all you did!

Love and warmth flowed and radiated out of Ralph’s heart every time we met, every step he took. He is gone, I am so sad, I will keep him in my heart, to help me be more warm and loving.

— Jasmine Berke

Re: “Out of Touch” Letter

Incredible letter to the editor "Out of Touch." The saddest part is how true it is. Instead of unifying SC, Take Back Santa Cruz has driven the divisions deeper. We don't need more fear mongering, hate, and anger! History has proven this solves nothing, only makes it worse.

—In Agreement

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Homing DevicesThe program that set out to house the county’s chronically homeless has reached its ultimate goal. Project 180/180 has found homes for 180 of Santa Cruz’s most vulnerable homeless people. It’s a step forward, not just for the homeless here, but for the local community as a whole.

Cannabis GreenlitCongressman Sam Farr’s amendment asking the feds to back off medical marijuana has passed the Republican-controlled U.S. House of Representatives. Republican Dana Rohrabacher out of Huntington Beach co-authored the amendment to the funding bill for the Justice Department.

“I’d like to write some songs that are so good that nobody understands them. Not even myself.” — Townes Van Zandt

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Best of Santa Cruz 2015

In 40 years of publishing, Good Times has seen a lot of “bests.”

Spring Triangle: Three Spring Festivals—Aries, Taurus, Gemini

The Spring signs Aries, Taurus and Gemini constitute a triangle of force that sets the template for the nine signs that follow and the template for the entire year (Spring 2015 - Spring 2016) ahead.
Aries initiates new ideas, Taurus stabilizes the new thinking of Aries and Gemini takes the initiating stabilized ideas of Aries/Taurus and disperses them to all of humanity. It is in this way that humanity learns new things, with the help of Mercury, the messenger.
As Spring unfolds, three elements emerge: the Fire of Aries (initiating new ideas), the Earth of Taurus (anchoring the ideas of God through Mercury) and the Air of communicating Gemini. These three signs/elements are the Three Spring Festivals. They are the “triangle of force” forming the template (patterns) of energy for the upcoming new year. After these three we then have the soothing, calming, warming, nurturing and tending waters of the mother (Cancer). Cancer initiates our next season under the hot suns of summer. Planets, stars and signs create the Temple of Light directing humanity towards all things new.
March 29 is Palm Sunday, when the Christ, World Teacher, was led into Jerusalem (City of Peace) on a donkey (humility). Palms waving above His head, signified recognition of the Christ’s divinity. Palm Sunday is the Sunday before the Easter (Resurrection Festival). Palm Sunday begins Holy Week, the week of capture, imprisonment, passion, sacrifice, crucifixion, death and resurrection of the christ. All events in the Christ’s life represent events (initiations) that humanity experiences through many lifetimes. We turn our attention to these holy events this week. Their concepts portray and reveal to us greater spiritual understanding. Then, Aries, the “light of life itself” shines through us.

The New Tech Nexus

Community leaders in science and technology unite to form web-based networking program

Spring Spirits

What’s your favorite most recent outdoor discovery in Santa Cruz?

A hike that’s across from Waddell Beach. I didn’t realize you could go across the highway and do a super simple loop, and it’s beautiful. You can see the coastline.
Liz Porter, Santa Cruz, Community Outreach